Autopneumatic grand piano.



PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907. J. H. SANDLAS & J. W. DARLEY, Jn. AUTOPNEUMATIG GRAND PIANO.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 13, 1906.

wi/bnmo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY SANDLAS AND JOHN W. DARLEY, JR, OF BALTIMORE- IJARYLAND, ASSIGNORS TO WILLIAM KNABE & COMPANY MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

AUTOPNEUMATI C GRAND PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1007.

Application and Jim 13,1906. srm nmomav.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN HENRY SANDLAS, and Join: W. DARLEY, Jr., citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,have

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autopneumatic Grand Pianos; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaihs to make and use the same. 7

Our invention relates to improvements in autopneumatic grand pianos, and the object of our invention is to provide a simple pneumatic attachment applicable to grand pianos.

-With this object in view, our invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure represents in cross section the front part of a grand piano. a represents the bottom of a grand piano,'b.the piano action thereof, 0 the strings, d the rolls for carrying the perforated sheets, e the keys, and f the pneumatic tubes, all these parts being of the usual well known construction.

able base portion, such as indicated in Design Patent No. 37,591, dated October 24, 1905, and the rear oi the piano is supported by a removable leg in the usual manner. The base portion includes pillar shaped parts g connected in front by cross pieces h, and in the rear by a removable-fiat part or board i which is doweled into the part fattached to the rear pillars.

1; represents a spring for holding the board i'so that it can theu easily be removed and access be obtained .15 to the interior portion which contains the pneumatic devices.

The front part of the movable base piece is closed by boards I and m and a movable door or foot board n.

0 represents the pneumatic case, p the wind chest,

p" the bellows, and q a spring, these parts being of the ordinary construction. Attached to the front part of the wind chest by a pivot T is a link swhich is connected by means of a link M0 the rear part of the bellows p. The pedal board u is connected by means of the link 1), with the lower end w of the link a, the whole folding out into the position shown in dotted lines in the figure.

The front of the pia'noframe is supported on a remov- If the piano is to be played in the ordinary manner, the pneumatic attachment is thrown out of use, as is .shown in the full lines in the figure. When it is desired to use'the pneumatic attachment, the foot board n g is unlocked and folded down.

The means for locking and unlocking the foot board are as fo'llows:'-The foot board n hasa hole near its top,

and is provided with a projection a: with which ahook y on a sliding bar z engages. A spring 1 presses the bar 2 in contact with the projection 25, and holds, the pedal board locked. The upper part of the bar 2 is bent as shown at 3, and with this bent portion a pivoted cam 4 is adapted to engage. This cam is operated by means of-a rod 5, attached to a bar 6 extending across the piano. which bar is at each end, by means of a bent connecting bar 7,. connected to the pivoted slip 8. It isobvious that by folding the-slip 8 outwardly, the bar 2 Will be pushed down, by the connections just described,

releasing the foot board n, which may be then folded out into the position shown in dotted lines in the figure;

I The piano frame I is provided with downwardly projecting sideportions or rails such as 10, which fit overthe removable base or support.

Having thusdescribed'our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In an-anto-pneumatic grand piano, the combination of a piano frame provided with the usual keys and piano action, with a removable base therefor carrying the pneumatic devices, a pedal board normally locked and connected to said pneumatic devices, a movable slip attached to the piano frame, and connections operated by said slip for unlocking said pedal board, substantially as described.

2. In an auto-pneumatic grand. piano, the combination of a piano frame provided with keys and piano action. with a removable base therefor carrying pneumatic devices, said base being detachabiy connected with said piano frame and comprising movable parts whereby ready access may be had to the interior thereof, pneumatic devices supported in said base, a folding pedal board nor .mally locked, connections between said pedal board and said pneumatic devices, means for unlocking said pedal board and allowing it to be folded out, said means including a folding slip, a spring operated bar provided with a catch normally locking said pedal board, and connections between said slip and said bar,,substantially as described.

In testimony whereot, we ai'iix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY SANDLAS. JOHN W. DARLEY, JR. Witnesses:

CHARLES R. Bon'r'rons, E. A. Dona. 

